One way to ensure data is accurate in your Access database is to make sure users know the rules for entering data; you can do this by making the rules available as users work with a form. For example, you can create help tips for any control on the form by following these steps:

  1. Double-click the control.
  2. Under the Other tab, click in the Control Tip Text property box.
  3. Type the tip (up to 255 characters).

When the user rolls the mouse over the control, the tip will be visible.

You can also add help tips to the Description cell for each field in the Table design grid; text entered in a description cell automatically appears in the status bar when the user selects a control whose source comes from that field. However, you don't have to go back to the Table design grid to add a help message to the status bar; you can add it at any time in a form's design view by following these steps:

  1. Double-click the control.
  2. Under the Other tab, click in the Status Bar Text property box.
  3. Type the message (up to 255 characters or the space available across the status bar).

Each time the user selects or tabs to the control, the help message will appear in the status bar.

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